tainty of his Refurrection from the Dead, &c. The Apoftle here affirms that God raifed up Chrift from the Dead. The fame is afferted in feveral other Places. See the 2d Chapter of the Acts, Verfe the 24th, Him, being delivered by the determinate Counfel and Fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken (fpeaking to the Jews), and by wicked Hands have crucified and flain: (He adds) Whom God bath raised up, having loofed the Pains of Death, because it was not possible that he should be bolden by it; Verfe the 32d, This Jefus hath God raifed up, whereof we all are Witnefjes, compared with the 3d Chapter, Verfe the 15th. When the Apostle St. PAUL mentions this, he uses a Variety of Words to exprefs the exceeding Greatness of that Power which was displayed and exerted herein, Eph. i. 19, 20. So in another Place he is faid to be raised by the Glory of the Father. That our Saviour had the like Power is manifeft from those Words, Deftroy this Temple, and in three Days I will raife it again. I fhall not quote the various Paffages recorded by the Evangelists (referring to his appearing after his Refurrection); for these must be well known. When he found his Difciples backward to believe his Resurrection, he thus addreffed to them, O Fools, and flow of Heart to believe all that the Prophets kave spoken! Ought not Chrift to have fuffered thefe Things, and to enter into his

Glory?

Glory? Luke xxiv. 25, 26. Though at first they knew not who it was that talked with them, their Eyes being miraculously held, yet he afterwards removed that which obftructed the Organ of Vision, and gave them the fulleft Evidence and Affurance of the Reality of his Resurrection. Verfe the 30th and 31ft, It came to pass as he fat at Meat with them, he took Bread, blessed, and brake it, and gave to them; and their Eyes were opened, and they knew him: Then they called to Remembrance what he had faid to them, and how he interpreted the Scriptures to them: They faid one to another, Did not our Hearts burn within us, while he talked with us by the Way, and opened to us the Scriptures? We have alfo an Account of his appearing to the Apostles when THOMAS was abfent. John xx. 19, 20. That fame Day at Evening, being the first Day of the Week, when the Doors were fhut, where the Difciples were affembled for fear of the fews, came Fefus, and food in the midst of them, and faith to them, Peace be to you! and when he had fo faid, he fherved to them his Hands and his Side; then were the Difciples glad when they faw the Lord. And they joined in their Teftimony: But THOMAS Would not believe their united Witness; but affirmed that unless he could fee in his Hands the Print of the Nails, and put his Finger into the Print of the Nails, and thrust his Hand into his Side, Y 2 which

which had been pierced on the Crofs, he would not believe. Our Lord condefcended to give him this full fenfible Demonstration he defired; as you may fee in the 26th and 27th Verses of that Chapter, After eight Days his Difciples were within, and Thomas with them; then came Jefus, the Doors being fhut, (for the Reafon above mentioned) and flood in the midft, and faid, Peace be to you! Then faith be to Thomas, Reach hither thy Finger, and bebold my Hands; and reach hither thy Hand, and thrust it into my Side, and be not faithless, but believing. THOMAS, having that full Evidence he defired, being thus fully convinced, addreffes him in an Extafy of Joy, My Lord, and my God! The greater the Difficulty was to cure and remove his Infidelity, the greater Reafon have all fucceeding Ages to believe. The more incredulous he was at first, the more fatisfactory muft his Witnefs and Testimony be, when he was fully perfuaded of this Truth. Had our Lord refused to give this fenfible Demonstration and Evidence of the Reality and Certainty of his Refurrection; had he only appeared, and then fuddenly vanished and disappeared, and left them doubtful; this would have fhock'd and weaken'd the Faith of all After - Ages: But he took care to give his Apostles the fullest Proof they poffibly could defire. They had frequent Opportunities of converfing

with him, of touching his Body, and of eating with him. He did not immediately after his Refurrection afcend to Heaven; for had he done so, after once appearing to them, they might hefitate, and doubt whether they had really feen him or no. It was requifite that he fhould give an undoubted Certainty in this important Article of Faith. For this Furpofe, he delayed his Afcenfion forty Days after his Refurrection; fee Acts i. 3, 4. Having juft before faid, that he gave Commandment to the Apostles whom he had chofen, it follows, to whom alfo be fhewed bimfelf alive after his Paffion, by many infallible Proofs, being feen of them forty Days, and Speaking of the Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. He gave them particular Inftructions concerning the Methods of propagating and spreading his Kingdom, or Gofpel, and ordered them to tarry at Jerufalem, till the Holy Ghost should be poured out on them, whereby they should have the fulleft Inftructions, and miraculous Preparations, for their arduous Work. By conferring with them, walking, and eating, they had infallible Proofs that he was the very Person who had been crucified; fo that they might as well doubt of their own Existence, as of the Truth and Reality of his Refurrection. They had the Privilege of feeing him afcending to Heaven. Not only was he

feen

seen and converfed with by his Apostles, but he was seen by more than five hundred Brethren at once, I. Corinth. xv. 6. But the Apoftles being particularly chosen to be the Witneffes hereof, he gave them the most unquestionable Evidence. After his Afcenfion he appeared to STEPHEN the Protomartyr, and to PAUL, who gives his Testimony, Laft of all, he was feen of me. Should any Perfon now enquire, Whether those who were the Witneffes of Chrift's Refurrection were fuch as we may depend on for their Veracity and Faithfulness? the Answer to this Query will naturally lead me to the fecond Head of Discourse, which is,

II. To fhew that the Witnefs and Teftimony which the Apoftles gave is fufficient and valid. And this will appear to all unprejudiced Perfons, from these two following Confiderations and Reasons. 1ft, Becaufe what they teftified was concerning a Matter of Fact, fuch as is capable of being examined, and known by their Senfes. 2dly, They had no Temptations of Earthly Honours, Preferments, or Secular Intereft, to allure them to give such a Teftimony, but quite the reverse; they expofed themselves for it to the Rage and Malice of Unbelievers.

1. What they teftified was concerning a

Matter